FR2734035A1 - FLOATING BUFFER WITH GEARS - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a gear damper. A gear damper (12) includes "anti-ratchet" means for preventing disengagement between a damper sprocket and a mating rack (54, 56), when a sliding or turntable (16) is moved. or rotated to enter or exit a stationary housing. The gear damper further comprises mounting means (74, 76), so as to allow the damper to move "floating" in a direction perpendicular to the rack (54, 56), when the toothed wheel follows the rack. Consequently, the distance between the toothed wheel of the shock absorber and the rack is kept at a substantially constant value, so as to eliminate any derailment or skipping of the gears. Field of application: rotary shock absorbers.

Description

The present invention relates generally to devices

  rotary oil-type dampers for damping the opening movement of an openable object, such as an ashtray, a cup holder, a glove box lid, or the like, with respect to a main body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a floating gear damper of a single construction, which incorporates anti-ratchet guiding means provided to prevent disengagement between a sprocket or sprocket of the damper and a mating rack, when a sliding tray fits in or out

stationary housing.

  It is generally known in the art that an oil-type rotary damper device can be incorporated as a mechanism for regulating the opening and closing of doors and drawers, in order to absorb a shock imparted by an external force. For example, when the object to be opened is a sliding ashtray installed in the dashboard of a motor vehicle, a sudden opening by impact may have the effect of projecting or spreading the contents of the ashtray on the passenger, the seat and the floor of the vehicle. In order to avoid this problem, the prior art provides rotating damping devices for absorbing the created impact between the body

principal and the opening object.

  These damping devices according to the prior art typically comprise a stationary housing and a rotor having a gear wheel. The gearwheel is generally designed to engage meshing engagement with a rack attached to a portion of the opening member (e.g., a sliding or rotating ashtray). The stationary housing is adapted to be connected to the main body (stationary casing of the ashtray). During operation, the damping device is normally fixed statically on a panel, by keeping the toothed wheel of the damping device resting on the conjugate rack. Consequently, these devices according to the prior art are subject to the problems of derailments or jumps of the toothing of the gears when

  the rack deviates from the sprocket of the damping device.

  This effect can be caused by a number of factors, such as mold variations,

  manufacture of parts, heating cycles, and the like.

  If the distance between the damper gear and the mating rack is too small, additional friction between the components is produced, which can lead to seizure and the risk of premature failure of the damper. On the other hand, if the distance between the damper pinion and the rack is too great, it causes derailment problems ("effect

  ratchet ") or hopping of the toothing.

  On the other hand, since these components are generally made of plastic, their dimensions

  vary due to changes in ambient temperature.

  In addition, the components may be deformed during prolonged use, resulting in misalignment problems. Again, it follows that the damper

  experiences a malfunction.

  Therefore, it is desirable to provide a floating gear damper of a unique construction such as that of the present invention, which includes anti-ratchet guide means for preventing disengagement between a damper gear and a rack. conjugate when a sliding or rotating plate is moved or rotated so as to enter or exit a stationary housing. It is also preferable to equip the damper with an improved mounting means, so as to allow it a floating hold

  when the sprocket of the shock absorber follows the rack.

  The floating gear damper according to the present invention represents a considerable improvement over rotary damping devices according to the state

prior art.

  Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide a floating gear damper, having anti-ratchet means, the manufacture and mounting of which is relatively simple and economical, while overcoming the disadvantages of the damping devices.

according to the prior art.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an improved gear damper, which includes anti-ratchet guide means for preventing disengagement between a damper gear and a mating rack when a sliding or rotating plate is moved or rotated to return

  in or out of a stationary housing.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved gear damper, which includes mounting means so as to permit floating mounting when the damper gear follows the rack. In accordance with these objects and objects, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved gear damper for use in a damping assembly, which includes a stationary housing, a slider tray, and anti-ratchet means for prevent disengagement between a toothed wheel and rack when the sliding plate is moved to enter or exit the stationary housing. The stationary housing is constituted by a pair of side walls, an upper wall and a rear wall, so as to define an interior cavity. The sliding plate is constituted by a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, for receiving a receptacle. The inner cavity of the stationary housing slidably receives the sliding tray for movement thereof between a

  first position and second position.

  The sliding plate has at least one

  conjugated rack arranged on the bottom of the tray.

  The gear damper consists of a fixed housing and a rotor. The rotor has a shaft disposed on the outer surface thereof for receiving a gear wheel. The toothed wheel is arranged in meshing engagement with the rack. The anti-ratchet means include a heel

  guide part of the stationary housing.

  The rack is "sandwiched" between the toothed wheel and the guide pin, so as to keep the toothed wheel in constant contact with the toothed rack. As a result, the distance between the toothed wheel of the damper and the rack remains substantially constant, so that

  to eliminate any derailment or skipping of

grenages.

  These goals and benefits of this

  invention will become more clearly apparent from the description

  The following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals indicate similar elements in all the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view

  of a casing and sliding plate of a door-

  beaker / ashtray of a motor vehicle, in extended position, incorporating the floating gear damper according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below, similar to Figure 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of area A of Fig. 2, illustrating the details of one of the floating gear dampers; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a detail view of the floating damper according to the present invention, meshingly engaged with an arcuate curved rack. Referring now to the various views of the drawings, and in particular to those of Figures 1 and 2, these show a damper assembly 10 incorporating two floating gears 12 according to the present invention. The gear damper 12 comprises "anti-ratchet" guiding means 14 for preventing disengagement of the damper gear with respect to a mating rack, when an opening object such as a cup holder / sliding ashtray. 16 is moved to enter and exit a main housing such as a stationary housing 18 of the cup holder / ashtray installed in the dashboard of a motor vehicle (no

represent).

  As best shown in FIG. 1, the sliding tray 16 is adapted to carry two receptacles 20 for cup-type articles, and an ashtray receptacle.

  22 disposed between the containers 20 in the form of cups.

  The floating gear damper 12 brings the carrier

  cups / sliding ashtray 16 containing the receptacle

  forming ashtray 22 to go out (open) slowly or doubly

  at a damped or controlled speed, when activated, and to be recalled (closed) at the same damped speed

and with the same strength.

  The stationary housing 18 of the carrier

  cups / ashtray is shaped in a generally rectangular configuration and has a pair of sidewalls 24 and 26, an upper wall 28 and a rear wall 30, so as to define an interior cavity 32 for receiving the cup holder / sliding ashtray 16 in wherein each of the opposite side walls 24 and 26 is provided on its inner surface with a pair of spaced parallel rails 34 and 36 projecting from the wall. The rails 34 and 36 disposed on the side wall 24 are vertically

  aligned with the corresponding rails of the side wall 26.

  The rails 34 and 36 of the respective side walls 24 and 26 extend longitudinally from the rear wall 30 of the stationary housing 18 to the front end 38 thereof. On the other hand, corresponding grooves 40 and 42 are defined by the parallel rails 34 and 36 of each of the side walls 24, 26,

  to slidably support the cup holder

  sliding ashtray 26 with minimal friction

  when moving it forward, in a first

  direction, and back, in a second direction.

  As also shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the cup holder / sliding ashtray 16 is similarly shaped to a generally rectangular shape, and has a pair of side walls 44 and 46, a rear wall 48 and a front wall 50. A central opening 52 for receiving the ashtray receptacle 22 is provided adjacent to the end wall 50. A pair of racks 54 and 56 are provided on the lower wall of the sliding plate, the racks being arranged parallel to one another. other and spaced apart from each other. Each of the racks 54, 56 extends longitudinally and over substantially the entire length between the rear wall 48 and the front wall 50. It will be noted that the toothed end faces of the racks 54, 56 are oriented facing the center of the sliding plate 16 , and that their rear faces face the side walls

  respective 24, 26 of the sliding plate.

  Since the two gears 12 are identical, it will be sufficient to describe the construction and operation of only one of them. Therefore, the floating gear damper illustrated generally on the lower part of FIG. 2 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 5, this damper causing the slide plate 16 to be deployed (opened) slowly and gently at a speed damped or controlled, when activated, and to be recalled (closed) at the same damped speed, with the same force. The floating gear damper 12 according to the present invention is molded from a plastic material and consists of a fixed housing 58 of cylindrical shape and a rotor 60. The rotor 60 has a shaft 62 disposed on its outer surface for The toothed wheel 64 of the damper is arranged to engage meshing with the rack 54 operatively connected to the bottom of the sliding plate. Therefore, as the slide plate 16 moves out of the stationary housing 18, the rotor 60 rotates about its axis, while a braking force is applied thereto while the toothed wheel 64 is rolling slowly.

on the rack 54.

  On the other hand, the outer surface of the stationary casing 58 is provided with an integral boss or heel 66. The guide bead 66 is preferably molded directly on the surface of the stationary casing 58 coming into contact with the rear face of the casing. the rack 54. Therefore, the mating rack 54 is engaged between the damper gear 64 and the guide post 66, so as to keep the gear in continuous contact with the mating rack 54. In other words, , the distance between the base of the toothed wheel 64 of the damper and the front face of the conjugate rack 54 is maintained at a substantially constant value. If the guide pin 66 were absent, the distance between the damper gear 64 and the mating rack 54 would be subject to variations that could result in either additional friction, galling, and premature failure of the damper. one side, the derailment of the gears and jumps of their teeth, on the other. It is clear that the guide pin 66 cooperates with the rear face of the rack 54 so as to define the "anti-ratchet" system.

  (anti-derailment) of the present invention.

  The stationary casing 58 further comprises a pair of wing-like portions 68 and 70 diametrically opposed to each other. Each of the wing-shaped portions 68, 70 terminates in a flexible tongue or projection 72 for locking. The flexible tabs are adapted to snap-engage and lock into opposed elliptical-shaped slots 74 in a mounting panel 76 to securely attach the floating gear damper to the panel as shown in FIG. Figure 5. It will be appreciated that a mounting panel 76 is securely attached to the bottom of the stationary housing 18. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the flexible tabs 72 cooperate with the opposed slots 74 in the panel 76, defining mounting means, so as to allow the damper to "float" depending on the meshing of the toothed wheel 64 in the rack 54. In other words, the flexible tongues of the gear damper can float in a direction perpendicular to the rack. In this way, the problems of additional friction, misalignment, deformation and / or

  derailment encountered in previous devices.

  Figure 6 shows a detail view of a second embodiment of the floating gear damper according to the present invention. In particular, the toothed wheel 164 of the floating damper 112 meshes with a curved rack 154 in the form of an arc, which can be functionally connected to a turntable (not shown) intended to fit in, and to get out of a

stationary housing while turning.

  In view of the above detailed description,

  It can be seen that the present invention provides an improved gear damper, which includes "anti-ratchet" means preventing disengagement between a toothed wheel and a rack, when a sliding or rotating plate is moved or rotated to enter or exit from a stationary housing. On the other hand, it provides a mounting means allowing a gear damper a floating motion in a direction perpendicular to the rack when the gear wheel follows

the House warming party.

  Although the foregoing illustrates and describes what is currently considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications may be made to them, and that equivalent elements may be substituted. to the elements thereof, without departing from the true scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention, without departing from the scope of the central idea thereof. Therefore, the present invention can not be limited to the particular embodiment described as being the best mode taken into consideration.

  consideration to implement this invention.

Claims (15)

  A gear damper for use in a shock absorber assembly, characterized by comprising, in combination: said damper assembly (10), including a stationary housing (18) consisting of a pair of sidewalls (24, 26), an upper wall (28) and a rear wall (30), so as to define an interior cavity (32); a sliding plate (16) consisting of a pair of side walls (44,46), a rear wall (48) and a front wall (50) for receiving a receptacle (22); said inner cavity (32) of said stationary housing (18) slidably receiving said sliding tray so as to allow movement between a first position and a second position; said slide plate (16) comprising at least one mating rack (54, 56) disposed on the bottom thereof; said gear damper (12) comprising a fixed housing (58) and a rotor (60), said rotor including a shaft (62) disposed on the outer surface thereof for receiving a gear (64); said gear (64) being arranged to engage meshing engagement with said rack (54, 56); and said stationary housing (58) comprising a guide pin (66) formed on and integral with said pinion, said mating rack being engaged between said toothed wheel and said guide pin so as to keep said gear in continuous contact with said rack, so that the distance between said toothed wheel (64) of the damper and said rack (54, 56) is maintained at a substantially constant value so as to   eliminate any derailment or skipping of the gears.   A gear damper according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixed housing (58) comprises a pair of wing-like portions (68,70) diametrically opposed to each other, each terminating by a flexible tongue (72).   A gear damper according to claim 2, characterized in that said flexible tongues (72) are adapted to engage and lock in opposed slots (74) formed in a mounting panel (76) securely attached to the bottom said stationary housing.   A gear damper according to claim 3, characterized in that said opposed slots (74) are elliptical in shape to allow the flexible tabs (72) of said gear damper (12) to float in a perpendicular direction. at said rack (54, 56)   when said toothed wheel (64) follows said rack.   Gear damper according to claim 1, characterized in that said damper (12)   gear is molded from a plastic material.   6. Gear damper according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one conjugate rack (54, 56) comprises a pair of racks arranged parallel to one with respect to   the other and spaced apart from each other, each of the   meshes of said pair being in meshing engagement with   a gear wheel associated with gear dampers.   Gear damper for use in a shock absorber assembly (10), characterized in that it comprises, in combination: said damper assembly (10), comprising a stationary housing (18) consisting of a pair side walls (24,26), an upper wall (28) and a rear wall (30) so as to define an inner cavity (32), a sliding plate (16) consisting of a pair of side walls (44,46). ), a rear wall (48) and a front wall (50) for receiving a receptacle (22); said inner cavity (32) of said stationary housing (18) slidably receiving said sliding tray so as to allow movement between a first position and a second position; said slide plate (16) comprising at least one mating rack (54, 56) disposed on the bottom thereof; said gear damper (12) comprising a fixed housing (58) and a rotor (60), said rotor including a shaft (62) disposed on the outer surface thereof for receiving a gear (64); said gear (64) being arranged to engage meshing engagement with said rack (54, 56); and anti-ratchet means for preventing disengagement between said toothed wheel and said rack when said sliding plate is moved into and out of the stationary housing so that the distance between said toothed wheel (64) the damper and said rack (54, 56) is maintained at a substantially constant value so as to   eliminate any derailment or skipping of the gears.   8. Gear damper according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises mounting means for said gear damper (12) to float in a direction perpendicular to said rack when said wheel   gear (64) follows said rack (54, 56).   9. Shock absorber according to claim 8, characterized   characterized in that said mounting means comprises elliptical-shaped opposed slots (74) provided in a mounting panel (76) securely attached to the bottom of said stationary housing (18), and a pair of portions (68, 70). in the form of flanges, diametrically opposed to each other, each terminating in a flexible tongue (72), which is adapted to engage and lock into one of the opposite slots (74). Gear damper according to Claim 7, characterized in that said damper (12)   gear is molded from a plastic material.   11. Gear damper according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one conjugate rack (54, 56) comprises a pair of racks arranged parallel to one with respect to   the other and spaced apart from each other, each of the   meshes of said pair being in meshing engagement with   a gear wheel associated with gear dampers.   12. Gear damper, characterized in that it comprises: a fixed casing (58); a rotor (60); said rotor comprising a shaft (62) disposed on the outer surface thereof for receiving a gear (64); said gear (64) being disposed in meshing engagement with said rack (54, 56); and anti-ratchet means for maintaining the distance between said toothed wheel (64) of said damper and said rack (54, 56) at a substantially constant value, so as to eliminate any derailment and gear teeth.   13. Gear damper according to   claim 12, characterized in that said means   ratchet comprises a guide pin (66) shaped on and integral with said fixed housing (58), said mating rack (54, 56) being engaged between said gear (54, 56) and said guide pin (66), so that said toothed wheel is kept in continuous contact with said conjugated rack.   Gear damper according to claim 12, characterized in that said fixed housing (58) comprises a pair of flange-like portions (68, 70) diametrically opposite each other, each terminating by a flexible tongue (72).   15. Gear damper according to claim 12, characterized in that said damper   (12) gear is molded from a plastic material.